WELLINGTON CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 14, 12 October 1942, Page 2

WELLINGTON CRICKET

Prospects For 1942-43 Season (By Burwood.)

It would appear that Welliugton will have almost aa many senior teams iu the championship competition this season as there were lust year, when 12 competed. ’ The Welliugton Cricket Association has decided that championship games will start on Saturday next, aud the management committee, at -today’s meeting, will have to decide how many teams will take part iu the senior contest. The Hutt and Petone clubs showed .their bunds on Saturday afternoon, when a prmiitice game was played on the Hutt Recreation Ground. Petone had first strike, and totalled 140. U. Williams, who played with the Johnsonville team last season, top-scored with 64, aud Barber (30) and Croft (20) hit. freely. Vogtherr, a right-hand, medium-paced bowler from the Parnell club, Auckland, bowled well lor Hutt in taking three wickets for 49, as did Sherlock, a recruit from the Hutt Valley Cricket Association, who keeps a good length with his slow spinners. Pegler (two for’ &) aud McLeod (two for 4) also met with success with theii; slows. Hutt replied with 160, B. Stehr -retiring after hitting up 72 iu confident style. Hutt thus won by 20 runs on the first innings., Williams (three "for 24) and Asplet (two for 32) were the most successrul bowlers for Petone. Kilbirnie, last year’s champion team, will have most of their regular players on hand again. One they will miss will be F. H’. L. Mooney, their wicketkeeper, who has decided to rejoin his original club, St. Patrick’s College Old Boys, who are determined to maintain the position they gained in the senior ranks about halfway through last season. Mooney is not only about the best wicketkeeper in the Dominion, but he is also a dependable batsman. His presence should stiffen the St. Patrick’s team materially. Karori, who shared with the Army team the position of runners-up last sea; son, will also be able to held most of last season's stalwarts, including J. Standidge, G. R, Dickinson, R. W. Coupland and C. Williams. A man they will miss will be their serviceable wicketkeeper, D. Heenan, who has been a tower ol strength to the team during the past few seasons.

The Army team, which did so much to revive interest in the game last season, will again be able to place a strong eleven in the field. That fine all-round player M. A. O’Brien will again be on the side and will have wil’h him J. Otway, K. T. Agar (West Christchurch), C. F. Haul (an Englishman), 11. Webber and I’ 1 . Fricker (Auckland), C. Parkiusou (Taranaki), K. Thompson (Levin), H. C. Anderson (West Christchurch), aud J. Jt. Stevens (Nelsou) aud L. P. Dumbletou (Auckland). The Army, who will also enter a team in the Hutt Valley Cricket Association’s competitions, have two practice wickets provided for them, and this should help them in getting into fo The Midland and Welliugton clubs have decided to place a combined team in the senior competition, and this should enable them to get a strong eleven together, with experienced players such as 11. AV. Osborn, It. O’Neill, M. Thomas, and C. A. Blundell to call upon. There is also talk of the Institute Old Boys and University clubs amalgamating, and if this eventuates a strong eleven should be the outcome. University will be able to provide *P. D. Wilson, B. A. Paetz, P. Whelan and D. P. Caird, while Institute can supply Al. .Bilby, C. McCarthy, h. Feuer, L. Collinge, J. Ormiston and Al. Henderson. The return of that able all-round player G L. Whyte, who has been on military duties overseas, will mean a lot to Wellington College Old Boys, as his slow spin bowling will greatly strengthen the attack. , , , . There is a possibility that that brilliant batsman J. A. Ongley, who is serving with the Itoyal New Zealand Navy, may be able to play in Wellington occasionally this season. He did excellently with the bat for the Wellington representative eleven in the 1939-40 season. He bad decided to throw in his lot with St. Patrick’s College Old Boys. It is almost certain that culls to tnilitarv duties will take many players away froiu Wellington before long, but tor the start of the season there will be plenty of good talent.